ENGL 102 | Spring 2017 | UC Merced | Prof. Humberto Garcia

True Freedom

The art from 1832 depicts two sides of the transatlantic slave trade, those who were free and those who were slave. However, what is necessary to focus on is the fact that in this pictures the usual rules between slavery and freedom are reversed. This picture shows freedom as something that is determined by how happiness. The man on the left, who is considered the slave of this image, describes his animal type job of tugging a cart around. Downward left of him there are many tax papers piling on the floor. As for the man on the right, who is considered the free man here, he is living with his family while watching his child grow. He has no taxes, but instead has a background filled with dancers. An overall happy lifestyle.

However, what caught my attention the most are the words said by the man in the center of the image, “Think of the poor suffering African called a Slave unpossess’d of any of the rights & privileges that you enjoy, while you sit under the vine of your Reform Bill and the fig-tree of your Magna Carta – He knows nothing of such blessings” These words seem to contradict the picture portrayed as the free families are those who do not fall under the words of the Magna Carta or Reform Bill.

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4 thoughts on “True Freedom”

I think this was the main point of the blog: “These words seem to contradict the picture portrayed as the free families are those who do not fall under the words of the Magna Carta or Reform Bill.” However, I would have liked to see this idea expanded upon. I would have extended this blog. The opening seemed solid, but as this was the last sentence, I felt like I was missing the “meat” of the argument. It might have also helped to explain what these two documents were/who they were for.

The main point that I see in this post is, “The art from 1832 depicts two sides of the transatlantic slave trade, those who were free and those who were slave. However, what is necessary to focus on is the fact that in this pictures the usual rules between slavery and freedom are reversed.” It was definitely well detailed in that regard. However, I believe you could improve the post slightly by adding in a bit more detail on the two opposing sides (British vs. Slaves) and possibly look more closely at the cartoon for any other hidden references as to why the picture was different from the text. Otherwise, good job.

The most original idea in this post is “These words seem to contradict the picture portrayed as the free families are those who do not fall under the words of the Magna Carta or Reform Bill.” To make your post stronger I suggest expanding on this idea. What exactly does the Magna Carta say that contradicts the picture. Was it done on purpose?